Far from being your friends, they are exploiting you for their own purposes. They need capital to exploit the country's natural resources.

Advanced English Dictionary

verb, noun+verb[VN]1 (disapproving) to treat a person or situation as an opportunity to gain an advantage for yourself: He exploited his father's name to get himself a job. + She realized that her youth and inexperience were being exploited. + The opposition parties will always exploit government problems to their own advantage.2 (disapproving) to treat sb unfairly by making them work and not giving them much in return: What is being done to stop employers from exploiting young people?3 to use sth well in order to gain as much from it as possible: She fully exploits the humour of her role in the play. + Teachers should be exploiting computers in education.4 ~ sth (for sth) to develop or use sth for business or industry: countries exploiting the rainforests for hardwood + No minerals have yet been exploited in Antarctica.exploiter noun [C]+noun[usually pl.] a brave, exciting or interesting act: the daring exploits of Roman heroes + The papers were full of her latest amorous exploits.

Collocation Dictionarynoun

ADJ.

dare-devil, daring | legendary

His courage and exploits were legendary.

| military, sexual, sporting

bragging about his sexual exploits

verb

1 treat sb unfairly for your own advantage

ADV.

mercilessly, ruthlessly

The workers are ruthlessly exploited by their employers.

| cynically

He pursued his own interests, cynically exploiting his privileged position as trustee.

| deliberately | sexually

2 make the best use of sth

ADV.

extensively, heavily | fully, to the full

The firm has been successful in exploiting new technology to the full.